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THE BRAMHALL BOOKLETS 



4i 



SAVING 
A 
SINNER" 

yl ^raci in one leaflet 
By 

Butler Davenport 



Published by 

BRAMHALL PLAY HOUSE 

"The House of Truth" 

27th Street at Lexington Avenue 
New York City 



DECEMBER, 1919 



NUMBER 1 



25 Cents 



Copyright 1919 

By the BRAMHALL PLAYERS, Inc. 

All publication and acting rights reserved 



MM '6 '920 TMP92-009040 

, &EC?9t9« 



SAVING A SINNER 



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K A"^ 



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"SAVING A SINNER" 

A TRACT IN ONE LEAFLET 

Symbols 

The LADY The WOMAN 

The DOCTOR The PRIEST 

The MALE 



Locality— THE LADY'S ROOM 

The Lady on the sofa. The Woman at the door, her hand 
on the knob. The Doctor standing near the mantel. 
The Lady looks annoyed. The Doctor profound. The 
Woman quietly indifferent. 

The LADY 

(Tapping the eye-glass in her right hand against the fingers 
of her left, glancing at the Doctor. In a minute he taps 
his glasses in the same way; the Woman following the taps 
from under her lowered lids.) 
That will do, Katie, thank you. 

(The Woman, with slight indication of her head, opens the 
door at the back) 
I may want you again soon — (quickly) when — (correctingly) if 
Father Richards calls let me know before showing him in. 

(There's a swift questioning glance sweeps over the Woman's 
face, lost as she lowers her head in a slow bow prior to her 
passing out, closing the door after her.) 

The LADY • 

(Quickly) 
Well? 

The DOCTOR 

(His glasses to his lips) 
I think you have good grounds for your suspicions — 

The LADY 

(Her breath escaping her in disappointment) 
Ah— h! . ... ! 

The DOCTOR 

(Continuing, cautiously) ..... 

— but am not certain. . . d 



SAVING A SINNER 



The LADY 

(Persisting) 
Any way, — if it is so, — she can get rid of it without danger to 
herself or her name? 

The DOCTOR 
(Earnestly) 
I believe so. Unless she knows how to conceal her condition 
remarkably — 

The LADY 
(Nodding her head) 
She does. 

The DOCTOR 
(Eyeing her) 
I thought so, she showed great aptitude last year with you. 

The LADY 

(Smiling away her annoyance) 
So you knew before I told you? 

The DOCTOR 

(Trying to suppress the shadow of a smile) 
Suspected. A clever physician never knows until he's told by his 
patient. 

The LADY 

(Laughing) 
I'm inclined to believe you, — (seriously) but what am I to do about 
Katie? I can't lose her, — and I can't have her around as she is, — 
will be, — and unmarried — (scowling and shrugging her shoulders) 
its scandalous! 

The DOCTOR 

(Sympathetically) 
Too bad. She's a nice girl. They so often go to the bad when 
turned out. 

The LADY 

(Sharply) 
Turned out? Not Katie! Why she does everything for me, — 
takes ten years off my looks every day before I face the world, — 
my friends. — No, No, Doctor, some other way must be found out 
of this muddle, — (Decidedly) I don't intend to add ten years to 
my looks over night: I must keep Katie. 

The DOCTOR 

(Continuing) 
And you won't have a scandal — 

The LADY 

(Concluding) 
Not among the servants. 

The DOCTOR 

They're often more difficult to deal with than the mistresses. 

The LADY 

(Impatiently) 
They have no idea of the fitness of things. 



"SAVING A SINNER' 



The DOCTOR 

(Murmuring) 
Very little,— in such things. (Directly) Suppose I propose science 
helping her? 

The lady' 

(Slowly nodding her head) 
Well, — it's either that — or religion, for I'm detemiined to keep 
my maid,— (Raising her eyebrows, then dropping them, her lips 
tightly pressed together) unscandalized. 

The DOCTOR 

(Smiling indulgently) 
Have you tried-religion-on her? 

The LADY 

(Wearily) 
Not yet— I've sent for Father Richards,— but I thought I d try 
physical science before spiritual force (Raising her hands in the 
air, then dropping them) So it's up to you, Doctor, — and you'd 
better make haste, as he'll be here any minute. 

The DOCTOR 

(Laughing quietly) 
If that's the case may I be allowed to see my — 
(The LADY looks at him quizically) 

The DOCTOR 

(Hesitatingly) 
— patient ? 

The LADY 

(Slowly, shaking her head slightly) 
She'll hardly be that— She's very clever, with a quick tongue. 

The DOCTOR 

(Laughing) 
Client,— then ? 

The LADY 
(Laughing) 
You may — 

The DOCTOR 
At once, please — (In mock solemnity) and alone. 

The LADY 

(Rising) 
Most certainly. (Turning toward the left door) Twos plenty of 
company at such a conference, — and I'm not fond of crowds. 
Only — (Taking hold of bell rope with her left hand) be sure, 
if you win her over to your method of — (Her mouth pursing up, 
then twitching) salvation, — not to keep her as long — 

The DOCTOR 

(Interrupting) 
— as her mistress? 



SAVING A SINNER 



The LADY 

(Laughing- as she pulls the bell rope) 
You won't need to. — Maid's are stronger, less sensitive, and remem- 
ber, — I need her. Good luck. (Going out, — then turning around 
in the door) and hurry, — you haven't much time. Father Richards 
— (Closing the door quickly, as the door at the back is opened by 
the Woman, who looks toward the sofa, then at the Doctor.) 

The DOCTOR 

(Addressing the Woman) 
Your mistress wants me to speak to you, Katie, — about — (Glancing 
toward her) You might close that door. 

The WOMAN 

I suppose we might, Sir, — (Closing the door) if we're to talk 
about — 

The DOCTOR 

(Quickly) 
What? 

The WOMAN 
(Reddening, then swallov/ing) 
That— 

The DOCTOR 
(Scrutinizing the opposite wall) 
Then you~know? 

The WOMAN 
(Looking straight at him) 
Well, — I ought to, if you do! 

The DOCTOR 

(Quickly) 
Yes, — Yes, — quite true. Well-Well,now Katie, what are we to 
do about it? 

The WOMAN 

(Calmly, as she comes down the room) 
Have it, Sir, — have it, — that i^ what F;.! going to do, — and if I'm 
going to do that, I don't think there's much for any one else to 
do,-^o you? 

The DOCTOR 

(Nonplussed) 
Quite true Katie, quite true — but — 

The WOMAN 

Quickly) 
There ain't no "buts" in this case, Sir, there's just something to be 
born and I'm going to bear it. — That's straight to the point ain't 
it? 

Th3 DOCTOR 

(Murmuring) 
Quite, — Katie, — quite — pointed. 



SAVING A SINNER 



The WOMAN 

(Shakin.c her head) 
I meant to "point" it, — so's there'd be no mistake. 

The DOCTOR 

(Noddinpc his head) 
You did, — Katie, you certainly did, — and now for my-point — 

The WOMAN 

I'd be obliged if you'd sharpen it down as fine as you can, so's it'd 
reach me quick, Sir, — as I'm a bit thick. 

The DOCTOR 

(Hastily) 
No, — No, — I can't allow that, — but won't you sit down, it better 
becomes your condition at present. 

The WOMAN 

Thank you. I don't need to, but if it will hurry on the "point"* 
I'll do so, and oblige. (She sits) 

The DOCTOR 

(Drawing a chair toward him) 
Katie— 

The WOMAN 

CAnxiously) 
Yes, Sir — are you going to sit down too? 

The DOCTOR 

(Pausing in his descent) 
Why—? Do you object? 

The WOMAN 

(Hastily) 
No, — No, — Sir — Only it seems so long — such a waste of time 

The DOCTOR 

(Sitting) 
Not at all, Katie — This is a very serious matter. You are about 
to become a — Mother — 

The WOMAN 

(Stoicly) 
That's what they call's us. Doctor, after we've had it, — they call's 
us Mothers; Sure, it's not a bad name to bear as names go. 

The DOCTOR 

(Hastily) 
Not if honestly come by. 

The WOMAN 

We'll, I didn't way lay nor entice anybody to make mc one; — I just 
took a Man's word and was fooled. 



SAVING A SINNER 



The DOCTOR 

(Nodding his head) 
As many a woman has! 

The WOMAN 

(Smiling knowingly) 
Many, Sir— you certainly know that well, being a man and a 
doctor. 

The DOCTOR 

I now want to speak to you as the Doctor — 

The WOMAN 

And forget the MAN? Sure that's what you all do when not 
caught yourselves. 

The DOCTOR 

Don't let us become personal, Katie. 

The WOMAN 

Personal, is it? Well, it seems to me there's a lot of prying around 
into my ''personals" by folks just now, — that's how it strikes me. 

The DOCTOR 

For your good, remember, only for your good. 

The WOMAN 

Yes, Sir, — it's always for good when it's someone's else "person- 
als," — but we're mighty touchy when it's our's, — and I've reached 
the ''touchy" point, Doctor, and liable to "go off" any minute. 

The DOCTOR 

But your mistress doesn't want you to go off, — she cares for you, — 
wants to save you — 

The WOMAN 

— for herself, because she needs me. Oh yes, I'm just a maid to 
her. 

The DOCTOR 
Needs you, — yes, — and gives you a good home, — intimacy of com- 
anionship with her. 

The WOMAN 

(With a laugh) 
Home? — A slit of a room on the top floor like a coffin to lie down 
and get up in, — three meals at odd hours with people as discon- 
tented as meself, — who gossip, — lies about her, — cheat her when 
they can, — 

The DOCTOR 

But you are with her a great deal. 



SAVING A SINNER 



The WOMAN 

Sure I am and then it's on the jump I am, — every minute I'm in- 
timate with her. Why it takes three hours to put her together, 
another two to take her apart. Five hours hard work. And for 
what? That's puzzling me — 

The DOCTOR 

Why, — you add to her health, — and make her attractive — 

The WOMAN 

So's she can fool folks! But what's the use of it all — her health 
and beauty? 

The DOCTOR 

(Slowly) 
Employment, Katie. 

The WOMAN 

(Quickly) 
Saint Patrick,— that's it. You and me,— and the druggist, the 
"Massies," (pinchers I calls them,) for her body,— and them psyches 
far her head, — then paints, powders, — the corsets and clothes, 
washes and hair. Employment, — that's it, — she keeps heaps of us 
busy-heaps of people working hard — (Her expression falling) 
but — for what? I still comes back to that, — for what? 

The DOCTOR 

Society re — 

The WOMAN 

Stop right there. Doctor — You hit it there — Society! That's the 
busy, heaps of people working hard — (Her expression falling) 
our w^ork, — it's a poor one, but still it is an excuse. 

The DOCTOR 

(Rising) 
I'm glad you do, Katie. I thought you would if properly presented. 
(Walking slowly up and down the room) Society is the greatest 
institution invented by Man — 

The WOMAN 

(Puzzled) 
Invented? And what might that be — invented? (Insinuatingly) 
Could— (Quickly) Would you tell me, Sir? 

The DOCTOR 

(Pausing) 
To invent? — why produce, — devise, — concoct — 

The WOMAN 

(Following him mentally) 
Concoct? — Yes, — (Nodding her head) Well, it certainly is a con- 
coction. 



SAVING A SINNER 



The DOCTOR 

And as one of it's members we desire to save you from disgrace 
through breaking: one of it's chief laws. 

The WOMAN 

(Suspiciously) 
Which one's that, Sir? 

The DOCTOR 

(In quiet firmness) 
Adultery. 

The WOMAN 

(Vehemently) '. 

But I've not broken that law! No, Sir, — I haven't — 

The DOCTOR 

But, Katie, — your present condition provesi to me you have, .; 

The WOMAN 

(Positively) 
Then your proofs are wrong — Neither the Man nor I arc married — • 
Never have been, — so we didn't commit adultery, — we couldn't, — • 
see? (Suddenly) why— why (Slowly pointing toward door left) 
She's — married and — She's (Her hv.vA dropping slowly to her side) 

The DOCTOR 

That will do, Katie, — we're considering your case, — not — any one's 
else. 

•^^^ The WOMAN 

(Blankly nodding her head) 

Yes, yes — Sir — and mine's not cr.<: of adultery, — (Suddenly, with 

determination) and I don't mean to let any one — drive me into an 
invention that will make me commit adultery — No, I'll stay single, — 
on the outside, — then there'll never be any chance of my breaking 
that law of Society. 

The DOCTOR 

But Society also punishes you for evading it's law as well as break-r 
ing it— 

The WOMAN 
(Curiously) ' 

Then what'U they do to m.e? 

The DOCTOR 

Ostracize you — 

The WOMAN 

(Shaking her head) 
I don't know it, — but I shan't mind. 

The DOCTOR 

Cast you out, — cut you. 



SAVING A SINNER 



The WOMAN 

Sure I've never been in, — and I'd rather they'd "cut" me than 
have you. 

The DOCTOR 

(Protestingly) 
But you can't have your child as you are! 

The WOMAN 

(Winking her eye) 
When it's time I'll try mighty hard, and without asafstance from 
you, thank you. I'm too poor to pay for such help — 

The DOCTOR 

Oh, — your mistress — will — 

The WOMAN 

(Hotly) 
No, she won't! She'd better keep her money for herself, — she may 
need it again sometime. She's got to stay in Society ^i.aughing 
as she rises) Ha — ha, — I wonder what she'd do out of it? Well, 
we're through. Doctor. Thar.k you for trying to *'hclp" me, but 
I'll keep my child, — not let you kill it, — nor will I join any Society 
that'll say I've committed adultery if I'm married and found out 
and I'm all right if ''m net, or made good through divorce and 
anothei^ marrying, (Pointing toward door left) as she has twice, 
adultering both times, and liable to again. No, Sir, I'll stay just 
as I am and never commit any such crime. (Turning, going to 
the door) Thank you, — I'm through; You've convinced me, I'm 
right — Good day, (She goes out closing the door, — after which 
the door on the left is immedately opened and the LADY comes in) 

The LADY 

(Indignantly) 
I told vou she'd be difficult to deal with. 



You know ? 



The DOCTOR 



The LADY 



(With swift glance at him) 
I heard. 

(Going swiftly to the soft) 
The idea of her referring to me as she did. (Sitting) This comes 
of making intimates of them. Never again! They can't ap- 
preciate it. 

The DOCTOR 

(Quietly) 
You could hardly avoid it under the conditions, — but she insists on. 
her own privileges. 



, SAVING A SINNER 10 

The LADY 

(Firmly) 
There are some privileges that servants cannot be allov^^ed — (Con- 
sideringly) Let them have suffrage if we must, I say, but not sex 
privileges. 

The DOCTOR 

(Consideringly) 
Why not? — They're privileges that have always been universal. . 

The LADY 

In Nature,— yes, — too much so, — much too much; therefore Civi- 
lization or the Church are curbing them with laws; — you physicians 
repairing their damage through surgery and medicine. No, privi- 
leges of sex can only be permitted the few. 

The DOCTOR 

(Rising) 
Certainly, — the very few, (Glancing at her) who understand the 
proper use of them. 

The WOMAN 

(Opening the door) 
Father Richards is here. Mam. 

The LADY 

Show him in. 

(The WOMAN withdraws) 
He will put her in her proper place, show her the rights and wrongs 
of privilege, if any one can. 

The DOCTOR 

(Putting on his gloves) 
He's certainly a master at cornering privileges. I hope the dread 
of spiritual 'damnation will accomplish more than the fear of 
social ostracism. 

The LADY 

(Complacently) 
Sure to,- — if presented with fervor. 

(The door is opened. The Priest passes the Woman, who 
withdraws, closing the door after her. The Lady rises ex- 
tending her hand. The Priest takes it bowing low over it, 
then facing the Doctor. 
Doctor — 

The PRIEST 

(Moving majestically toward him) 
Oh, yes, — I know — 

The DOCTOR 

(Taking his hand) 
Yes, — indeed — I trust you're well? 



SAVING A SINNER 11 



The PRIEST 

(Smiling blandly) 
Too well to trust myself to you, Sir; — And you? — 

The DOCTOR 

(Laughing: as he bows) 
Not ill enough to come to you, Sir. — But you've a different kind 
of patient to see here, (Crossing to sofa) so I'll be moving on. 

The PRIEST 

(Sauntering to fireplace) 
Indeed ? 

The DOCTOR 

(Turning his head as he takes the Lady's hand) 
Yes, — one requiring more than your knowledge of men, — your 
persuasions of Heaven or dread of Hell, — (Turning and bowing over 
the hand in his) 
A Woman — 

The LADY 

(Quickly) 
It's Katie — 

The DOCTOR 

(With a quick, half amused glance at her, then turning to 

the Priest) 
3f course, — it's Katie: (Going toward the door at back) 
Whom I leave in your hands. 

The PRIEST 

(Quickly) 
Because your own were unable to heal her? 

The DOCTOR 

(Pausing at the door) 
It's not healing that will cure Katie, — she needs humiliation, — 
which she'll get from you. — Good day, — and the best of luck with 
Katie's Soul, — i'm through with her body. (Closing the door after 
him) 

The PRIEST 

Constant association with the body makes Man cynical — (Taking 
the chair near the sofa) I was distressed to hear of Katie's con- 
dition. 

The LADY 

(Piously) 
Not only that, — for that could be altered, — but she's like a mule, 
and all her reading has only unbalanced her mind, — in fact has 
lifted her mind out of the social class her body was meant to live 
in. She won't let science do a thing for her. 



SAVING A SINNER 12 



The PRIEST 

(Devoutly) 
Then indeed has the time come for the Church, (hesitating) or her 
husband. 

The LADY 
But she hasn't any — 

The PRIEST 
The father of her child is indeed her husband. 

The LADY 

(Vacantly) 
Yes? — (Murmuring) not — always. 

The PRIEST 

(Continuing — correctingly) 
Always, — in the eyes of the Church. 

The LADY 

(Trying to affirm a doubt) 

Yes, Yes But she can't spend all her time in a church and be 

my maid, — you know there are useful as well as spiritual duties, 
Father, — and a maid is — a maid — with many things to do, — and 
none of my friends — or her's either, will soon look on her through 
the eyes of the Church. 

The PRIEST 

We must cause them to — 

The LADY 

(Puzzled) 
How? (Suddenly) If you could make that Man marry her they'd 
do so at once. 

The PRIEST 

(His face lighting up) 
Then we must make him. — (Smiling) How easily you found the 
way! 

The LADY 
I hope it will be as easy to show him. Do you know where he is? 

The PRIEST 

(Smiling quietly) 
In your hall — 

The LADY 

(Alarmed) 
If Katie meets him! 

The PRIEST 

(Raising his hand) 
Don't alarm yourself. She'll never know him under my cloak. 



SAVING A SINNER 13 



The LADY 

(Dropping- back with a sigh) 
Ha, — I trust not, for his sake. 

The PRIEST 

That's how I felt when I met him on your stoop, so wrapped him 
in my cloak before bringing him in. 

The LADY 

(Curiously) 
On my stoop? 

The PRIEST 

(Nodding his head) 
By appointment. We must bring about a reconciliation, — and then 
a marriage — between these two souls. 

The LADY 

(Doubtfully) 
But — She hates him. 

The PRIEST 

(Firmly) 
That must be — overcome, — for the child's sake. 

The LADY 

(Quickly) 
Of course, — of course it must, — (In sudden doubt) How? 

The PRIEST 

(Blandly) 
Through the proper influence of (Slowly) Mind — on — 

The LADY 

Matter ? 

The PRIEST 

(Shaking his head slowly) 
No,— your Doctor failed in that! Mind on— Mind, therein lies 
our power, and with that power we will convert these outcast sheep 
into respectable parents, — members of the fold. 

The LADY 

(Sighing) 
I hope so, (Suddenly) Uit she won't have to live long with him — 

will she? For I can't lose my maid. 

The PRIEST 

That we can take up after she's made a wife. That is the most 
important step to take now to save her. May I have him in? 

The LADY 

Certainly. 

The PRIEST 

See him alone? 



SAVING A SINNER 14 



The LADY 

(Rising) 
Of course, — if you think it's better? 

The PRIEST 

I do; the unrepentant, — and Joe still seems to be in that class, Fm 
sorry to say, — are more difficult to deal with in the presence of, — 
you'll excuse me; I'm looking through Joe's eyes now, not mine, 
we spiritual guides often have to.^of the worldly, which causes 
them often to drive hard bargains. 

The LADY 

(Calculatingly) 
Now, please remember. Father, if you fail in accomplishing what 
we desire with Joe for Katie's good through spiritual manipula- 
tion, I am to have a chance with hard cash and a promise of his 
freedom as soon as he's made Katie respectable. Isn't that my 
privilege before abandoning her to public disgrace and loss of 
employment ? 

The PRIEST 
Quite properly put. — If I fail to awaken his spirit to do his duty 
to the mother and child, I'll open that door (Pointing toward left 
door) and send him to you while I sound her. 

The LADY 

(Nodding her head, going toward the door) 
It's a bargain. — If I can only get him to give her his name, — then 
free her of him, — put the child in a "home," I shall have done 
(Laughing) enough for a life time, — earned my maid forever, — 
and take a trip to South America to regain my lost strength. 
(Going through the doorway) 

The PRIEST 

(Quickly) 
If he goes in to you, and you win him over, just open that door on 
a i-\r, as if it opened itself, — and I'll know he's repented, is ready 
to" make good the woman he ruined. 

The LADY 

(Looking around the door) 
The door v/ill open itself. I'm sure of that, — even when I wish you 
success — (Laughing quietly) as I do. (Closing the door on her 
amusement.) 

(The Priest goes to the hall door opening it and motioning 
in the figure standing?; in the hall. The Male, enveloped in a 
Ion ;■ black, eclesiastical cloak, enters quickly.) 

The MALE 

(Hurriedly, as he hastens down the room) 
She's dov/n the hall eyeing me superstitiously. ■ 

The PRIEST 

(Locking the door he has just closed) 
She'd never recognize you under that cloak. 



SAVING A SINNER 15 



The MALE 

Yes, she would if her superstitions was set agoinj? once,— she'd 

nail me rig:ht through cloak and cllothes. I don't want nothing to 
do with her. 

The PRIEST 

But you must perform your duty as a Man, Joe. 

The MALE 

(Puzzled) 
I thought I had. 

The PRIEST 

(Sternly) 
You certainly have not. 

The MALE 

(Suspiciously) 
And what moight that be, Father? I don't loike the sound of 
that word duty, Sir; indeed oi've hated it since me childhood. 

The PRIEST 

(Solemnly) 
That's the sin stirring in you, Joe. Be seated. 

The MALE 

Stirring's a weak word for it. Sir. Shure wheniver I've hated to 
do a thing, whether right or wrong, I'm sure to be told it's me 
dooty to do it. (Nodding to him) I thank you, oi will sit down, — • 
and nine times in ten when I do this dooty folks howls about me 
doin', it turns out all worng. 

The PRIEST 

(Sitting on sofa) 
That's because you don't do it right. 

The MALE 

(Nodding his head slowly) 
So "they" all say, — when things don't come out right (Slowly 
looking up) What's me dooty now. Sir? 

The PRIEST 

(Absorbed in thought, then devoutly) 
You must make Katie a Mother. 

The MALE 

(His eyes opening. His mouth opening, then catching his 

breath.) 
I've done my dooty in that, your Reverence, the best a man could 
do. 

The PRIEST 

(Suddenly — Severely) 
That you haven't Joe, — you know you haven't — 



SAVING A SINNER 16 



The MALE 

(Meekly) 
And how have I failed? 

The PRIEST 

You've not married her, — you know you haven't. 

The MALE 

Why! — that'd only be makin' a wife of her, your Reverence, and oi 
did more'n that, — Much more, Sir — for it ain't every husband can 
turn a woman into a mother, — and that's what oi did to Katie, — Oi 
made her into a mother, just as you said I must do. (Shaking his 
head vigorously) and I holds I done my dooty as a man in this 
case, Sir — (His head pausing, the eyes wandering in the direction 
of the Priest) Haven't I? 

The PRIEST 

(Stiffly) 
Not according to the law, Joe. 

The MALE 

(Cautiously considering) 
Well, — according to nature, Sir, any way. 

The PRIEST 

(Eyeing him sharply) 
Nature must always be guided and guarded by law, — otherwise 
the results, especially in human offsprings, are disastrous. 

The MALE 

(Scratching his head) 
Is that so? Well, oi've seen lots of "springs" off of those law 
made mothers that disasters anything n,ature ever did makin' one. 
(Suddenly) Take meself for instance. I'm not much of a "spring" 
to be proud of when you think it took a Cruiser's Stoker, a washer 
and ironer, a scrubber and cleaner, a cook and seamstress, a priest 
and license bureau, let alone a doctor, nurse and hospital, to make 
Mary Hogan a lawful mother and (Tapping his chest) this into 
a first class— legal — choild — (quietly) It seems a lot of effort — 
wasted — (looking up) gone wrong any way — don't it? 

The PRIEST 

Not at all, if you will but follow his example, walk in the foot- 
steps of your father 

The MALE 

(Suddenly) 
That I won't do, Sir. 



SAVING A SINNER 17 



The PRIEST 

(Firmly) 
I'm glad to hear you had such law abiding parents. 

The MALE 

(Sneeringly) 
Why they were that all right, your Reverence, all that — He turned 
up home once a year for a couple of month, — to make a mother 
of his wife, — sailed away from our ''hatchery," sendin' a bit of his 
pay once or twice a year to help out the mother he was makin', 
who worked like a slave until ready to drop her — (Laughing) 
"offspring"— as you calls us— (Hitting his chest) Gee,— (With a 
sneer) how she worked. (Suddenly, his hands beating his chest 
as he turns toward the Priest) And I'm the first of eight! (Catch- 
ing his breath) What'd you think the last was loike? (A pause) 
And we're all legal — "legits" — as they say in the dramar — (Lean- 
ing back) Do you thing we're worth it? (His hands dropping 
listlessly, as he considers) Do You? 

The PRIEST 

(Engulphed in the ensuing silence. — Suddenly returning to 

his profession.) 
You are my son, — you are (The Male absently shaking his head 
slowly) and you must now prove you are. 

The MALE 

(Wearily) 
How, Sir? 

The PRIEST 

(Firmly) 
By making Katie your wife. 

The MALE 

(Dully) 
But I don't want her! 

The PRIEST 

(Rising) (Positively) 
It's not what you want now, Joe — It's what your Church and State 
want! 

The MALE 

(Springing up) 
They're not mine. I never had anything* to do with makin' either 
of them. (Whirling himself across the room toward the mantel) 
they've been nothin' but a curse and torment to me since me 
mother gave me birth. (Turning around) My Church and State! 
(His hands tapping his chest) Mine? When have they ever been 
that? 

The PRIEST 

(Profoundly) 
Always, — as your parents were your's. 



'SAVING A SINNER" 18 



The MALE 

(Dropping back against the mantel, shaking with quiet 

laughter) 
Mine! They mine? Say, your Reverence, you're wrong again. 
Church, State, parents, — all mine! (Throwing his hands up) 
The last brought me here, with the sanction of the Church and 
consent of the State, — without a thought of how I came, — whether 
I was wanted, — what'd become of me, — or what kind of an animal 
they was makin', — and when they'd landed me, beaten me, lied 
to me, hurt my soul, twisted me mind, at times nearly starved me 
body, and didn't know what more to do to me or with me, my 
(Laughing) Church and State took a hand at me and the twisting, 
lying and — hurting kept up, — until I'm what you see here — in 
front of you, — a liar, a grafter, — a sneak, — head bent and eyes 
lowered — and fear fillin' every bit of my mind and body, — 
(Vehemently) fear taught me by my parents, — my Church and 
State. Mine! Why, I'm their's, body, mind and — soul, you call it? 
Soul — All — all theirs, — and just what they've made me. 

(With a broken sneer) 
A fine job, ain't I? 

The PRIEST 

It is no matter what you are now, Joe, — that is not now our 
problem. (Kindly) We will take you up at some other time, — in 
the near future, surely; but our concern now is Katie, who must 
be made a wife, and mother. 

The MALE 

(Dully) 
She'll be that, in time. She don't need me no more. 

The PRIEST 

(Dogmatically) 
A respectable woman then; that's what you must make her. 

The MALE 

(Slowly grinning) 
Say, your Reverence, do you really mean that? 

The PRIEST 

(Solemnly) 
I most certainly do — (Suddenly) What? 

The MALE 

That I can make her respectable? 

The PRIEST 

(Slowly nodding his head) 
I do, in the eyes of the Church and State. 



SAVING A SINNER 19 



The MALE 

(Shaking: his head) 
Then they must be blind — (Suddenly nodding his head) Stone 
Blind! 

The PRIEST 

(Warningly) 
Be careful, Joseph, that you do not blaspheme. 

The MALE 

I will, Sir, — but you don't know what I am, what I've done — 
(Quickly) Since childhood I've lied, — to please others or for 
others, — always afraid of something or somebody — I've stolen, — 
been raped and raped others, — got a sick body, — a weak mind, — 
been in prison twice; 

The PRIEST 

(Raising his hand) 
I'm not here to receive confession, Joe. Come to me at another 
time and we'll cleanse your soul, all at the proper time and place. 
Here we are concerned with Katie's soul, which must not be lost, — 
and it lies with, you, guided by your, — the Church and State, to 
save it, — restore her to her position as a member of her — that 
Church and that State. 

The MALE 

(Obstinately) 
Well, I'll be god damned— (Catching himself in fear at the sight 
of the stiff upraised hand and arm of the Priest) I beg your par- 
don, your Reverence — (Hotly) goll-darned if I'll do it without a 
nickel to keep her respectable after I've made her so. 

(Three short, distinct taps are heard on the door left) 

The PRIEST 

(Glancing at it swiftly, then after a momentary pause for 
thought, turning his eyes toward the Male, whose eyes are 
fastened on the door) 
Our problem is solved, Joe. 

The MALE 

(Eyeing the door) , ^, , ^ 

How's that, your Reverence? It takes more than Church and 
State to do that. It's the coin that will solve any problem of mine. 

The PRIEST 

(Pointing to the door) 
And you'll find if behind that door. 



S AVING A SINNER 20 

The MALE 

(Fixing the left door with his eyes, then striding toward it.) 
Then the quicker I go through it the sooner I'll have it solved. 

(Just as he opens the door there's a knock on the hall 
door) (Tho Male glances at the door, then at the Priest) 
But she don't get it, believe me, and you can tell her so from me 
if you likes, — when you lets her in that door. (Nodding as he pokes 
his head around the corner of the door) Thank you for locking it. 
(Jerking his head in the direction of the hall door, then disappear- 
ing, drawing the door to after him; which is immediately followed, 
by a knocking on the hall door) 

(The Priest raising his hands, then passing them over each 
other, finally pushing things away from him through the door 
left) 

The PRIEST 

I wash my hands of thee! 

(Going to hall door, unlocking and opening it. 

(The Woman enters, glancing around the room quickly.) 

The WOMAN 

So he's gone! 

The PRIEST 

(Facing slowly toward the sofa) 
My — friend has left me. 

The WOMAN 

(Moving toward the arm chair) 
Your — "friend" was slow getting off your lips, Father, as he was 
in getting into this room — (Her eyes fastened on the cloak over 
the chair back) but so quick in gettin' out that he left — his "cloak" 

The PRIEST 

(Turning, then quickly) 
That's mine, Katie. 

The WOMAN 

(Smiling) 
It's the ti-uth your tellin' now, your Reverence. I thought it 
''covered" a lie when your "friend" wore it down the hall just now. 
Sure the cloak of the Church covers many of them. 

The PRIEST 

(Sitting) 
With charity, Katie, as it is our duty. Sit down Katie. 



SAVING A SINNER 21 



The WOMAN 

(Sitting) 
Thank you — Every one's invitin' me to sit down today. It's 
curious I am about it. — All my life they've been chasin' me from 
sun rise to moon rise. I couldn't hustle fast enough to suit 'em. 
(Surprised) All of a suddent it's — "Sit down" — "Be seated," until 
I'm dumb wonderin' why? 

The PRIEST 

(Very kindly) 
It's your condition, Katie. 

The WOMAN 

Oh, it's that is it? Well, it's a natural one, your Reverence. 



(Profoundly) 
But unlawful. 



The PRIEST 



The WOMAN 

(Quickly) 
Well, nature got ahead of law-with Joe McCauley and me, as well 
as with all human Critters — (Turning to him) For after all, Father, 
Nature made man, then man made laws, mostly for women and 
children and the other animals. I've done a lot of thinkin' these 
last few months. Sir, on top of the readin' I was advised to do. 
Everybody's tellin' the Masses to read, — but, oh my eye, how they 
howls when we thinks our own thoughts, — after readin'. Nothin' like 
Nature gettin' busy inside a woman makin' a child for her to set her 
thinkin', fast too — and I think women deserves all that's comin' 
to 'em, all the've had to take in the past, — for they're such a set 
of damned fools — 



The PRIEST 



(Schocked) 
Katie! 



The WOMAN 

Oh, don't mind that word, sir, it's weak to express the disgust I 
feels for them, when I think what they've stood from the Critters 
they suffer like hell to give birth, life, Sir — to — , if they turn out to 
be men: (Vehemently) What thanks do we get? Laws! Yes, 
Sir, laws these great, big, silly, ignorant, many times wicked men 
make for us and our children to obey. (Firmly) Well, this time 
I takes my chances with Nature, — and Joe can have the law. 

The PRIEST 
(Expostulating) 
But, — his child. 



SAVING A SINNER 22 



The WOMAN 
Is mine! Is he goin' to bear it? 

The PRIEST 

(Faintly) 
No— 

The WOMAN 

(Vehemently) 
No, — to be sure he ain't, and what's more he's not goin' to have 
any credit for it, — (Cunningly) nor be it's owner. 

The PRIEST 

(Impressively) 
But he's it's Father, — Creator. 

The WOMAN 

(Quietly) 
That's a lie too! He never meant to be a father, nor wanted to. 
Just wanted to enjoy himself, and he did, as most men do, and 
he's taken his oath the child's not his. (To him) You know that. 



But he's repented. 



The PRIEST 



The WOMAN 

(Sarcastically) 
Fine repentance, — tryin' like hell to make out two other men are 
it's father, one a friend, the other a Cur he hates, when he knows 
damn well no man ever came near me until he got around me with 
his lies about marryin' me; and me thinkin' he could support me: 
(Vehemently) Don't talk to me of marryin' makin' me respectable! 
(Laughing) If that's the only thing that'll do it, — by harnessin' 
me up to a sneak and a liar, (Determindly) I don't want to be 
respectable: I'll just be a Woman, have my child. (Quietly) Mine 
dd you hear me Sir? (Shaking her head) Guess he won't want 
it, nor any one (With a gulp) but it's mother, born as it will be 
(Laughing) and there aint no law on earth can take it from me, 
nor make me give it up. No, not even Man's law, and I never 
heard of his claimin' God ever made a law against a woman be- 
comin' a Mother, havin' her own child. A Woman is never sure 
of owning her child unless she hasn't no husband and the child 
no father in the eyes of the law; then it's her's hard and fast, 
sure enough, Ha, — Ha. (Turning to him, deeply concerned) He 
take it from — me ? 

The PRIEST 

(Slowly shaking his head) 
Not such a child. 



SAVING A SINNER 23 

The WOMAN 

(Fervently) 
Thank God. 

The PRIEST 

(Impressively) 
But has he no ri8:hts? 

The WOMAN 

(Smiling-) 
He ouo^ht to have thought of them sooner, tied me up when lyin'" 
to me of his — love (?) while I (choking) was in love. 

The PRIEST 

(Benignly) 
With him— 

The WOMAN 

Him? — Not a bit! — with love — (Quickly) yes, that's it, in love 
with love — in my heart, Father Richards, that's what i was in 
love with. (Nodding her head, then grinning) That's the time he 
should have strapped me to him with your laws, (Nodding her head 
rapidly) then he'd been half owner of this child, even 
if I'm doin' the makin' — bearin' the pain, about as fair as most 
men's laws — (Laughing) and could have had his good time too. 

The PRIEST 

(Profoundly) 
Men are frail. 

The WOMAN 

Indeed they are. Many times too frail to work for a woman and 
child, but try to get the use of one without the expense of the 
other. Yes, they're frail all right. He is, — too frail for me to 
run the chance of carin' for him or lettin' my child have to. 

The PRIEST 

(Excusingly) 
He's gone through a great deal, Katie, been out of work — ■ 

The WOMAN 

(Desperately quiet) 
Do you know what I've got to go through makin' this child? Have 
got to bear before it's made? (Whispering, her hands clasped 
in front of her, her elbows on her knees) The last sometimes 
frightens me, if I stop to think. 



SAVING A SINNER 24 



The PRIEST 

(Disturbed) 
No, Katie — I — (Drawing himself up) Why — what a schockingr 
question. 

The WOMAN 

(Half laughingly, her fingers clasping and unclasping) 
No, of course you don't — (Nodding her head) Well, you'd get a 
schock if you had to go through with it once! But you're a Man — 

The PRIEST 

(Admonishingly) 
Your Priest, — remember, Katie — 

The WOMAN 

(Doggedly) 

But a Man just the same, excuse my remindin' you. Father, and 
none of you'll ever know what child bearin' means, but the minute 
it's come, we bear it, you clutch it with your laws, of Men, and 
then you know just what should be done right straight through 
it's life, until you box it up and put it under the sod; (Quietly 
laughing) and it's Mother stands by listenin', watchin' you make 
Men and Women out of the Critters She bears through the laws 
YOU make. (Throwing her hands out) Ha! it's a joke. We're too 
lazy to do our own breathin', we women, (Turning on him) You 
get all the fun at the start. ,The Priest straightens up horrified) 
You Men, I mean, — (He subsides) then we bear the labor and 
pain, workin' full time, all the time we common women, then 
present the men with their boys or girls — Theirs! Now don't 
it sound crazy? (A slight pause of silence) If it's fine, healthy, 
good lookin' we're praised; if weak, sickly or ugly — blamed, and no 
account taken of how we've slaved or what we've had to eat or 
of our peace of mind — nor of what the Man brought from his life 
when single and free. (Sitting back in her chair) Now, I'm 
still single and free — 

The PRIEST 

(Devoutly) 
And about to become a Mother. 



SAVING A SINNER 25 



The WOMAN 

(Noddinj^ her head) 
Yes, — a free Mother, thank God — and I don't intend to load down 
that Mother or child with Joe McCauley, — even if he is — (Contem- 
tuously, looking at him) a Man, — I don't want one so bad. (Her 
eyes become fixed on the door left, which slowly opens, apparently 
of its own accord) If you don't mind my sayin' it, I think there's 
some one in that room — that's wantin' to come out. 

The PRIEST 

(Rising) 
Before he comes, Katie, I want to remind you that you're about 
to become a — 

The WOMAN 

(Looking up at him) 
Mother? Yes, your Reverence, — I'm hearin' that all the time. 
There've been heaps of 'em. So why make such a fuss ? 

The PRIEST 

(With gravity) 
You should wait for me to finish. 

The WOMAN 

(Quietly) 
The Church never does, — until it buries us. 

The PRIEST 

(Denouncingly pointing at her, raising his eyes to the ceiling) 
Katie, my poor child (His eyes setting on her) you are about to 
become a Sinner. 

The WOMAN 

(Relieved) 
Oh,— God, Sir, I've been that a long time. 

The PRIEST 

And what is mure— you ar.^ about to give birth to a Sinner. 

The WOMAN 

(Her head on one side) (Questioningly) ^ 

I can't say, Sir, I can't say until ha— she— no it, yes that s it— it 
is born. I can't say, maybe not then,— for some years, (tacmg 
him) 've no right to blame them ahead of their sinnin . Give 
'em a chance first, Sir,— Give 'em a chance. 



SAVING A SINNER 26 



The MALE 

(Peeking around the edge of the door) 
I'm waitin* my chance, Sir. 

The PRIEST 

(Turning toward him) 
Yes, Joe, (Conscendingly) and you should have it, — Come in! 
(The Male hesitatingly comes in and takes a few steps down left 
of sofa. The Priest turns toward the Woman.) 
Nov/, Katie, give — 



(Rising) 
He's had it — and lost. 



The WOMAN 



The MALE 



(Bracing himself) 
It's different now, Katie, I don't come a beggin*, I'm a Man now, 
goin' into business. 

The WOMAN 

(Turning on him) 
Then you must have got somethin' in here or there (Pointing at 
left door) to make you the one and set you up in the other, for 
you couldn't have by yourself. 

The PRIEST 

(Murmuring) 
Give him a chance, Katie, your own words, give him a chance. 
He's trying to help you. 

The MALE 

(Eagerly) 
Yes, Katie, I'm tryin' to save you — 

The WOMAN 

(Interrupting) 
I dont want to be saved! By either of you. (Suddenly) Say they're 
too many of you "life saver's" goin' about savin' Sinners. (Point- 
ing her right forefinger at them) There's a heap of you might he 
doin' some damned hard, useful work savin* yourselves. 



SAVING A SINNER 27 



The PRIEST 

(Raising the two fingers of his right hand threateningly) 
I prohibit such lauguage. 

The WOMAN 

(Snapping her finger and thumb in the air.) 
Very well,— prohibit,— but prohibit them as will be prohibited. 
It's wasted on me. 

The PRIEST 

(Thunderingly) 
Ka— tie! 

The MALE 

(Pulling the Priest's left sleeve, warningly whispering) 
Careful, Sir,— you don't know her as I do. (Shaking his head 
knowingly) No Church can. 

The PRIEST 

(Letting down unwillingly) 
Katie, — here you have had reasoning with you Religion, Science, 
Society, Money — 

The WOMAN 

(Her mouth quivering with ironical amusement) 
Yes, they've all been at me, but what's he — (Pointing) at your 
elbow, afraid to come from behind you? 

The PRIEST 

(Glancing over his left shoulder) 
Ah,— Ah— He's— 

The MALE 

(Explanitorily) 
Labor, Sir, (Quickly) Capital for her, Sir. 



The WOMAN 



(Puzzlingly disgusted) 
WHAT! Both in— you? 



SAVING A SINNER 28 



The MALE 

(Shrinking) 
Ijabor, then, Katie — Labor. 

The WOMAN 

Not a bit of it, it's lazy you are. 

The PRIEST 

(Consideringly) 
I should say he was Man, in this case — (Glancing at him) 
Plain Man. 

The WOMAN 

A fine sample he is. Father, but he acts as they do many times, 
a hidin' behind some institution. (Throwing her left hand out) 
But I'll have none of him, I tell you, I don't care what you call 
him. (Going toward hall door) 

The PRIEST 

(Crossing the room, right) 
He's your only Salvation, now, Woman. 

The WOMAN 

(Whirling about at the door) 
Salvation! (Pointing at the figure holding on to the corner of 
the sofa back) THAT? (The man drops into the sofa corner in 
a heap) That my Salvation, — is it? (Throwing her head back 
with a laugh) Thank God I woke up before I was saved! (To the 
Male) God keep you. To the Priest) You help him. (To the 
Male) I don't want you — (Opening the door) I'm sure! (The door 
slams after her) 

The PRIEST 

(Shaking his head) 
Poor Woman. 

The MALE 

Indeed she is, your Reverence, — and we tryin' to save iher. 
(Shaking his head) 
(The Curtains close on their monotonously shaking heads.) 



PROGRAM OF FIRST PERFOMANCE 

AT THE 

13RAMHAI.I. Pl.AY HOUSE 

NOVEMBER 17th, 1919 

''SAVING A SINNER'' 

A TRACT IN ONE LEAFLET 



THE SYMBOLS 

The L ady Alba De Anchoriz 

The Doctor John Wray 

The Woman Annabelle Montague 

The Priest . • Butler Davenport 

The Male F'rancis S. Merlin 

Locality — The Lady's Room. 




iiiiiiii III! I I II II! iiiiiMMiMiiiiii I I III! Ill limiil 

BRAMHALL PLAY HOUSE 

"The House of Truth" 

27th Street at Lexington Avenue 
New York City- 



Opened April 1, 1915 



IHIi III H I HIIII1 



Performances : 



EVERY EVENING 
at 8.15 



^ 



^ 



SATURDAY MATINEES 

at 2 15 




Telephone : 
Madison Square 2051 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

nil nil 




016 102 933 6 K 



